Sarawak is one of the best family travel destinations in Malaysia. On the northwest coast of Borneo, the state offers an extraordinary concentration of family-friendly experiences within a compact geography — proboscis monkeys and orangutans at dedicated wildlife centres, a living cultural village showcasing Borneo's indigenous heritage, a world-class cave system, and a city (Kuching) that is compact, safe, and genuinely child-friendly. Here are ten of the best activities to do with kids in Sarawak.

Book your flights to Kuching International Airport — Sarawak's capital is served directly from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Singapore:

Established in 1957, Bako National Park is the oldest national park in Sarawak and one of the best introductions to Borneo's rainforest and wildlife. Located at the end of the Muara Tebas Peninsula, the park is accessible by boat from Kampung Bako and features numerous marked trails through diverse forest ecosystems. Wildlife encounters at Bako include proboscis monkeys — the large-nosed endemic Borneo primates — as well as bearded pigs, silver leaf monkeys, and pitcher plants. A guide is strongly recommended, particularly for families, to identify wildlife and navigate the trail system. Open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.

One of three orangutan rehabilitation centres in Sarawak, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre at KM 20, Borneo Highland Road, Kuching is the most visited and most accessible for day visitors. The centre is home to orangutans that were rescued as orphans or confiscated pets and are being gradually reintroduced to independent life in the surrounding forest. Feeding sessions where the orangutans come down from the trees are held at 9 AM and 3 PM — arrivals should be timed accordingly, and sightings are dependent on how much natural fruit is available in the forest on any given day. Open Sunday to Saturday, 8 to 10 AM and 2 to 4 PM.

A wildlife cruise in the Santubong estuary north of Kuching is one of the most exciting family experiences in Sarawak. Three-and-a-half-hour cruises through the mangrove waterways offer sightings of rare proboscis monkeys, Irrawaddy dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, fireflies in the mangroves at dusk, and — with luck — saltwater crocodiles. The combination of Borneo-endemic wildlife in a genuine mangrove ecosystem is genuinely extraordinary and difficult to replicate elsewhere in Malaysia. Tours depart from the Santubong area north of Kuching with guide commentary throughout.

Find and book the best hotels in Kuching for your Sarawak family trip:

The Sarawak Cultural Village at the foothills of Mount Santubong is the most comprehensive single destination for understanding Borneo's rich ethnic diversity. Traditional houses representing the major indigenous communities of Sarawak — Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Penan, Melanau, and Malay — are staffed by guides from each community who share stories, demonstrate traditional skills, and explain the cultural context of each structure. Regular cultural performances bring the village to life. For children, the combination of physical exploration (going inside traditional houses, watching demonstrations) and cultural storytelling makes this a genuinely educational experience.

Kuching is the Malaysian word for cat, and the Cat Museum at Bangunan DBKU, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya takes the city's feline identity with great seriousness. The museum covers the history, mythology, and cultural representations of cats across centuries and civilisations — paintings, photographs, postcards, ceramics, and statues from different eras fill the exhibits. For children, it is simultaneously educational and genuinely fun. Open Sunday to Saturday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Items from the collection are available for purchase.

For older children with an interest in history, the Kuching Heritage Walking Tour covers the city's remarkable colonial streetscape along Kuching Waterfront, taking in the Tua Pek Kong Temple, Chinese History Museum, Carpenter Street shophouses, the General Post Office, India Street, and the Golden Dome Mosque — all within walking distance in the compact city centre. The tour combines Sarawak's Chinese, Malay, Indian, and colonial British heritage in a single afternoon.

The Darul Hana Bridge in central Kuching is a striking pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the Sarawak River between the waterfront area and the State Legislative Assembly building. The bridge is open daily from 6 AM to midnight and becomes particularly beautiful at night when the lighting reflects on the river. Water fountain shows visible from the bridge operate at 8:30 to 8:45 PM and 9:30 to 9:45 PM — plan an evening walk to time a visit accordingly.

The Waterfront Esplanade at Jalan Chan Chin Ann is Kuching's most enjoyable public space — a landscaped riverside promenade open 24 hours with food stalls, river views, and an atmosphere that is particularly vibrant on weekend evenings when the lighting, musical fountain shows, and food vendors are all operating simultaneously. The Sarawak River views from the esplanade, with Fort Margherita on the opposite bank and traditional sampan boats crossing between, provide a uniquely Kuching evening experience.

Book Sarawak and Borneo wildlife tours, river cruises, and cultural experiences through Traveloka's activities page:

A car rental is recommended for reaching Bako National Park, Semenggoh, and the Sarawak Cultural Village, which are spread across the Kuching area. Arrange an airport transfer from Kuching International Airport through the Traveloka app. Check Traveloka promotions for Kuching flight and hotel deals.

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